I have been MIA for the last 6 weeks or so due to some heavy-duty issues with my back (we thought).  After a spinal epidural without much success, more x-rays were done yesterday, and lo and behold, all the pain is thought to be coming from my right hip.  Due to arthritis that I didn't know I had, the hip is bone on bone!  You could have knocked me over with a feather.  Well, 1st appointment with orthopedic surgeon in Charlotte on Friday.  I'm not a happy camper but at least we know what has been causing all the pain, making it very difficult to walk, sit, stand, or lay for any length of time.  Since I can't stay on heavy-duty drugs (and don't want to), we're going to start the 1st step and see what comes from that.  I'm still in shock and can't believe this is happening. I guess I'm glad he found what is causing all my pain, and it can be fixed. It could be worse for many reasons, so I'm thanking God that it is what it is and know He'll get me through it. I'm not ready for a Scooter from the Scooter Store yet, LOL!!

This is the card sent to my partner for the Just One November swap.  I used an old technique which is one of my all-time favorites. I especially like this Milk Paint Technique for this time of year. It’s from the December 2005 Technique Junkie. Really, I guess, I used the Level Up Tutorial too with the greenery swag. I stamped it 3 times with different shades of Tim Holtz Distressed Inks, cut it out, and offset each layer a little bit for more “fullness” of the swag. Added all kinds of different things to it for the Christmas/Winter feel from Faux Snow to Flower Soft to Christmas Red Stickles. Hot glued the double bow to it, and Voila, LOL!!  All the textures and sparkles don't show up too well in the scan unfortunately.  It is much prettier IRL.


I hand drew the “hinges” for the door but think I got them a little large for the size of the card. Papers used are Stampin’ Up and Candido Incandescent from The Paper Temptress. Swag stamp and ones inside are from The Artistic Outpost. I think that about covers it.

Until next time, Blessings, love, and hugs.........

Happy Halloween and stay safe!!!

Wanted to post several things today.  I needed another sympathy card, the TJ October Just One swap, and played with several "postcards" from Crafty Secrets.  Hope you enjoy....

A friend lost her brother in an auto accident several weeks ago.  I love this set from Our Daily Bread Designs and have used it before but tweaked it just a bit for this one.  All paper from The Paper Temptress (absolutely love this paper...all kinds of it!).  I used the Cuttlebug script folder on vellum for the background;  IRL it looks like layers of clouds.  Used Wizard die cuts, Dew Drops, twine, and ribbon from stash to finish.



For my Just One swap, I used the Sepia Technique from the October/November 2009 Newsletter. I love this soft, vintage-looking technique and really have fun using it.  Thought a cover this old might look like this, LOL.  The stamp is from Cornish Heritage Farms. After coloring, I cut it all out and used Basic Grey DP behind it from the Origins pad. Thought this particular pattern looked like a screen that would be behind a gate. Roughed up the edges after that and sponged edges with Distress Ink. All papers are from The Paper Temptress with the tan being embossed with a pumpkin folder from Cuttlebug. Little bow done on Bow-Easy with Ribbon from Ellen Hutson and Flame Dewdrops from stash…

The next few images are done using Craft Secrets Vintage Halloween Postcards Kit.  I used the antique wallpaper technique over the cut outs before attaching them on the chipboard, including the little 3-D charms added to the front and "stamps" added to the back.  Distressed all the edges with matching Tim Holtz Distressing Inks.  The "postcard" back was stamped with the stamps that came with the kit.  An addition of Black Diamond Stickles around the 3-Ds, a few Dew Drops and gorgeous May Arts silk ribbon from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store completed the hangups perfectly.  These will be going to our granddaughter and a few friends.  My DH wants to know if we can keep one, can you believe that?

Thanks for reading this far, I know it was a long one.  I'll try not to put so many together next time!  In the mean time, do have a good Halloween weekend.  Still can't believe that Monday starts a new month already!!

Blessings and peace.......

We think maybe Fall has really finally arrived.  We were teased by a few cooler days at the beginning of the month, then right back into the mid 80's.  I think now we've finally turned the corner....hooray!  High today of 74 with lows at night in the 40's.....Yaayyy!!  That's my idea of wonderful weather....

I've been working on my TJ Just One swap for October, do have it done but don't want to post it yet until my partner gets it IRL, LOL!  So Kathy Brown in VA, it goes in the mail tomorrow!  Hope you'll like it and thanks for being my partner this month.

The one I'm posting has colors not real conducive to your typical Halloween card, but I like it alot.  The image is from Twisted Papers, and the technique is Puzzle Layering.  I used paper both from SU and the Paper Temptress.  I know you probably won't be able to see the sparkle in each kitty's eye around the border, but they do, with aqua Stickles.  Really fun to make....

Oh, we did "bite the bullet" and get a new HP Photosmart printer.  Our other one was purchased in 2003 for almost $250.00; this one we purchased on sale for $79.00, and it's wireless too!  Prices really change after a while don't they, even with new technology.....

It really isn't this cooked IRL, just a slippery scanner top, LOL....

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful and blessed fall weekend!

This is the September TJ Just One swap I did.  I'm so glad I finally signed up for this and now after getting my feet wet, I will continue to do this monthly.  Had a really good time trying to do something special for my partner.  I did the Pinwheel technique from the August/September issue of the TJ Newsletter.

This is the 1st pinwheel I've done, but it sure won't be the last.  It's really easy and lot of fun to do.  Instead of stamping on some of the cardstock pieces, I attached Basic Gray DP to it, as I wanted it to really look like fall (I'm so ready, LOL).  The paper is all from the The Paper Temptress, the embossing is from a Cuttlebug folder run through the Wizard, center is Wizard die cuts "glitzed" with PK Glitz, and the little acorn in the middle is from my hoarding  stash!

Thanks for stopping by......and Blessings for your week!

I've got several postings again today.  Unfortunately, I've been having a horrible problem with my printer/scanner for the last few weeks.  Since it couldn't scan, I tried copying and then when I thought it was fixed, tried to scan from the copy.  Several worked okay, but the one I really wanted to share was awful.  It was in real light pinks with pearl Glimmer Mist using some DP from Cosmo Cricket.  I had Glimmer Misted vellum with the pearl also.  It was so pretty and shimmery with a beautiful pink bow I made using silk ribbon from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.  Shaped the ribbon on the Bow-Easy and even "shimmered" that.  Used nestabilities that I just got, Stampin' Up stamps, and gorgeous little Kaiser pearls.  This was done for our little Jada's 8th birthday.  Guess what we gave her...........why several pairs of different colored little pearl earrings!  She just got her ears pierced about a month ago.  Everything all went together and then......

The next 2 cards were done for DH and youngest son whose birthday is the day after Jada's.  Everyone was hoping for 3 generations on the same day but missed it by 1 day.  Probably a good thing, as little girl's really do deserve their own special day.

These both were done with Grapic 45 A Proper Gentleman Kit from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.  This kit contains the paper pad along with matching twine and different types of masculine ribbon from May Arts that all coordinate beautifully.  Other paper used was from The Paper Temptress.  Also used Cuttlebug folders run through the Wizard, Dew Drops, and PK Glitz.  Just not too happy with some of the colors that just did not scan accurately. 

So, now after having the printer apart, cleaning everything in sight, reassembling it, (DH, not me...I just read him instructions I found on the net, LOL), do we buy a new printer, get frustrated again with this one, or what.  The jury is still out, but I'll keep you posted!

Hope your Labor Day weekend has been good.  Our son got the porch on the back of the barn that we've been trying to get screened all summer done yesterday.  It's just been too hot, and the sun doesn't leave that area until about 4 in the afternoon.  DH then is all out of the notion by that time, LOL!  It's sure going to be nice though this fall, my most favorite time of the year.  Can't wait to sit and watch the deer and other little creatures and birds that come out of the woods to eat and drink. 

I've got 2 cards to share.  Both are Worn Wallpaper from the current TJ newsletter.  The 1st was done for a family that lost a mother/sister/daughter.  Paper is from The Paper Temptress and Basic Grey, stamps from Our Daily Bread and Stampin' Up.  The oval was cut with the Wizard Geometric Oval die, ribbon saved from a Clare Burke order.  ( LOL!  Can't throw anything away as you never know when you might need it, right?  Just saw an episode of Hoarders, pretty scary as I look at my stash!)

The 2nd is the Technique by Design Sketch Challenge for this month.  Again, all paper from The Temptress and Basic Grey.  My Panel E image is an art acetate piece from PK Glitz and "glitzed" with PK.  The greeting on Panel F was written by me with a Quickie Glue Pen and also "glitzed."  That greeting says "Harvest Blessings," but I'm afraid it doesn't show very well at all in the scan. In fact, the pretty "glitz" doesn't show too well on any of it, but it is so much prettier IRL.  I used buttons from Basic Grey for the 3 decorative items with green Wire Works from Stampin' Up, coming through the button holes, twisted to look like the tendrils on the pumpkin vine.  Fun to do........

Hope you all have a good week.  Thanks for stopping by and hopefully will see you back soon.

Peace and Blessings for your week ahead....

It is a very gray, cool for August 1 Sunday here in South Carolina.  We were amazed when we looked at the rain gauge.  We couldn't believe that since late afternoon yesterday, we have had 3-3/4" of rain.  It really came down in buckets for a while.  Our mini-long hair doxie, Teddy, and his "little" brother Tucker wern't too thrilled about trying to run between all the raindrops.  I should explain the "little."  Teddy is tiny and 13 years old.  Tucker is 3 and a Sheltie (he looks like a miniature Lassie).  It's been just a good couple of days just too play. 

I have had these napkins for a few months and knew I wanted to use them for the Hot Cards technique from the April/May 2006 Technique Junkies Newsletter.  (Don't laugh, it just takes me longer than most, and I moved my "play" room around, LOL!)  Love the way it turned out.  Who would have thought about freezer paper and a napkin for such a neat result.

All other papers are from The Temptress, Happy Birthday stamp on the tag is from Stampin' Up, tags cut with the Wizard from Spellbinder dies, and mulberry roses colored with Copics, embossed with clear embossing powder with some PK Glitz added.  Bow made with Bow-Easy.  Just a very fun technique to do along with other fun-to-do embellishments.  I will be looking at napkins in a different light from now on, that's for sure. 

Have a good rest of your Sunday and thanks for stopping by.  Be safe.....
Peace and blessings......